The Eighth and Final Square

Five years ago today, I declared my independence. I’d had enough of the sheltering and smothering and abuse from my folks. Leaving was the only way to keep my sanity. “So what are you going to do? This is your last chance,” I was told. I was terrified. I was afraid that something very bad would happen if I said I was leaving (would he hit me?); I was afraid I would take my life if I stayed. After half […]

Once upon a time, there was a girl who was lonely. She was kept in a tower of sorts, with minimal contact to the outside world, and was very unhappy: nobody in her tower took the time to understand her and love her for who she was; instead, they tried to make her into what they thought she should be so they would love her. One day, she was introduced to a man online, and they started talking. When the […]

I’ve started so many posts that I haven’t finished or published! I figured that since I’m just sitting here nursing the baby, that I’d just talk about stuff that’s happened lately! *** I got a job!!! I’m working at a Sears portrait studio. So far it’s a lot of fun! Since I already have photography experience, I was shooting on the first day! I feel like sales is a bit more difficult for me, but I take it as a […]

I still remember the sick-to-my-stomach feeling when my dad wanted to know if I was going to leave or not. I’ve been gone two years now. Two years! Things have not always been smooth sailing. For the longest time, I felt so guilty when I admitted that things were not all hunky-dory. I mean, leaving an abusive environment would make everything 100% better, right? Well, in some ways yes…I decide what I’m going to do and why…I make my own […]

Today is our first wedding anniversary. When I realize again that I’ve just spent the last year of my life with the most amazing man ever, it makes me all happy and excited. I’m so lucky…in so many ways!! I used to make lists of what I wanted in a husband. Then I threw out the lists…I figured I shouldn’t create expectations. And then I married Scottie. He IS the list I made…and more. I love how I can be […]

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4 *** For the first week or so, I was hopeful, even cheerful. I felt secure in my family again. Then things started getting me down. Nobody had changed. If anything, they had gotten worse — I was allowed practically no contact with the outside world…no phone, someone next to me if I was online (which was only once, because I had some work to finish), and when we went to the store or library, I […]

Scottie’s and my “story”…and also the story of my Independence Day from my controlling father. Part one, posted today on the one-year anniversary of my “escape”. Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 *** Online stuff was pretty much the extent of my social life for many years. We didn’t have interactions with other families very much, and I didn’t really have friends my age. There was this one family who had a daughter whom I was friends with, but when […]